The effect of communication skills-focused psychoeducation on subjective well-being of caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia: a three-arm randomized controlled trial

Background Caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia face emotional and psychological challenges that affect their subjective well-being (SWB). Despite their vital role, caregiver-focused interventions are limited. Structured programs that promote SWB by strengthening communication and psychosocial skills are needed to support caregivers effectively. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the "Communication Skills-Focused Psychoeducation Program(CSFP)",which was developed to improve the SWB of caregivers of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.Methods It was conducted in an experimental design with randomization, two intervention groups, and one control group, with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements. First, caregivers completed assessments on Subjective Well-Being scale (SWBS), communication skills (CSS), and caregiving burden (ZBI). Afterward, 72 caregivers were randomly assigned to three groups: CSFP, General Psychoeducation (GEP), and control. The CSFP-group received an 8-week, the GEP-group received a 5-week psychoeducation program, and the control group continued routine treatment. The effects of the intervention were evaluated immediately after the intervention and at the 1st and 3rd months of follow-up.Results Results showed a statistically significant difference between the pre-intervention and post-intervention SWBS mean scores of CSFP participants, as well as between pre-intervention and follow-up scores. In comparisons between groups, CSFP participants showed significantly higher SWBS mean scores than GEP participants immediately after the intervention, but no significant differences were found in the follow-up stages. Additionally, CSFP participants had significantly higher SWBS mean scores than the control group both post-intervention and at the 3rd month follow-up stage, though no significant difference was found at the 1st month follow-up stage.Conclusions These findings show that both interventions are effective in enhancing caregivers' SWB, with CSFP providing longer-lasting effects. Future studies should further examine the effectiveness of these interventions and explore how they can be adapted to different groups. Additionally, integrating CSFP into psychosocial and rehabilitation programs could be beneficial in reducing caregiver burden and improving care outcomes.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov İdentifier: NCT05068765, (Registered on 5 October 2021) ( https://register.Clinicaltrials gov/prs/beta/records ).